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Key points:
- Expecting twins or multiples increases the chances of pregnancy and demands more from the mother’s body.
- Carrying twins or multiples carries an increased risk of complications, poor fertility, and breathing, feeding, and temperature control at birth.
- Feeding twins or multiples offers a choice between breastfeeding and breastfeeding based on their needs.
- Helpful tips for managing twins and multiples include establishing a support system, synchronizing eating and sleeping patterns.
Expecting twins or more can be very different from a normal pregnancy when you’re carrying one baby. Apart from the obvious, such as growth and movement, there is also stress on the mother’s body and the chances of pregnancy.
Pregnancy with multiples
It’s important to receive good prenatal care and do what you can to stay healthy. Talk to your health care provider about when to take your pregnancy test. This may need to be more frequent depending on the progress of your pregnancy.
Although most women have a good pregnancy with twins and multiples, there is an increased risk of complications:
- Your body will have more nutrients and extra calories to support your baby’s growth. It’s not the amount of food you eat, but the type of food that matters. Remember what it means to be a healthy weight during pregnancy.
- Get some rest if possible and stay clean. Remember, sleeping on your side is important during pregnancy for better blood circulation to your babies.
- If you’re struggling to sleep, consider changing your sleeping position. Stop using the phone and computer for a few hours before going to bed. Make your bedroom a calm and relaxing place. Ideally, avoid all sources of caffeine that may have negative effects during pregnancy.
- Be aware that there is an increased risk of pregnancy when carrying twins/multiples such as miscarriage, double or twin blood transfusions, preeclampsia and high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.
Being born
Where you give birth will depend on the maternity support available to you. Private hospital fees are only covered by health insurance and there are often ‘out of pocket’ costs.
Maternity clinics are covered by Medicare. Talk to your healthcare provider about options that are right for you and your children.
At birth, there is an increased risk of:
- Prematurity – twins are more likely than singletons to be born before 37 weeks of gestation.
- Having low birth weight – being small for gestational age (SGA).
- Children with breathing and feeding problems.
- Children who have trouble maintaining their temperature and/or blood sugar levels.
- Children who need special or intensive care.
Feeding
You have choices about how you feed your children. Although breastfeeding is the best and most natural way to breastfeed, it is not suitable for all mothers. If you can, give your babies some breastfeeding, in the first few weeks of life.
Colostrum, the first milk produced by a mother’s breasts, is rich in fat and has the power to protect the body from disease. This helps babies develop a strong immune system and establish their own microbiome in the gut.
If you choose to feed your babies formula, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly and remove all bottles, nipples and feeding equipment to prevent your babies from getting sick.
Talk to your pediatrician who will be able to calculate your baby’s milk supply (how much milk they need) based on their age and weight.
You may need to give your babies a special formula if they were born prematurely or have bowel or stomach problems.
Helpful tips for getting twins and multiples to sleep
Nat is a sleep and calming specialist at Nourish Baby and sister organization Safe Sleep Space and has been helping families with babies for the past 15 years. Among his many specialties, Nat is an expert in de-cluttering. Read on to learn more about what helps with multiple adoptions.
Nat’s top ten sleeping and solving tips
- Make sure you set up a support system with your loved ones and family/friends. Creating clear connections within this support network will be of great help to you. Prepare a communication plan with software or a communication book, especially in the early days to record food and sleep. This will help other parents know what your children are doing.
- In the first days especially, try to organize your children’s food schedule. Find out which twins are the most sensitive or the most difficult to settle. Aim to feed each other within 30 minutes – this will help you and your partner get uninterrupted, uninterrupted sleep.
- When you are at home, always follow safe sleeping tips when setting up your children.
- Try to work around a more complex twin system, but be prepared for this to change. If your babies share the same room, allow your quiet baby to have some quiet time so you can focus on the restless baby.
- Try to coordinate your children’s meals and sleep. Stick to this goal even though, in the early days, there are many variables. Go slow, especially in the first six weeks or so and be realistic. Try to feed your children within 30 minutes of each other and put them to sleep within fifteen minutes.
- At night when the twin wakes up to feed, gradually wake the other to feed. This can help with timely care.
- If you have regular twins who are sleeping well and settling through the night, it may work to briefly separate your children so you can focus on who is awake and who is restless. Move the regular twins into your room and focus on who is in their current room. See here for more information on sharing rooms.
- Give consistent messages so your children know it’s time for bed. Use puzzles, play music, dirty the room – give your children two or three messages to learn when it’s time to go to bed.
- Aim to make small changes over time rather than big changes quickly. Developing neural pathways takes time, attention and gentle consistency.
- Most importantly, take care of your needs – from here everything else will follow. Be kind to yourself, your loved ones and your children and remember, you will all be learning together.
Important information about twins and multiples
- There is an increased risk of psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety, in women who do not expect to have more than one child. Self care is important.
- Twins and multiples can be born prematurely and require more or more special care.
- Coordinating the care of multiple children can be very effective in their management.
- It’s true to have small changes at a time, rather than rapid changes. Consistency and persistence can make a big difference when it comes to feeding and establishing management.
For more information see Nourish Baby or to book a sleep appointment over the phone visit Safe Sleep Space.
About the Author: Jane Barry – Your Health Professional
Jane Barry is a registered nurse, midwife, and child health nurse with a passion for combining medical technology with writing. She has nearly 30 years of experience in pediatric health nursing and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (Nursing). Jane is interested in maternal health, parenting, pregnancy, child and maternal care, children’s health, diet, nutrition, dental care, and dental health.
An active member of AHPRA, The Australasian Medical Writer’s Association, Health Writer Hub, and the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nurses, Jane Barry delivers health-related content professionally and clearly.